world cup for dummies, NBA style

[FeZZy]

Chileeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

[ForeignFan]

Germany? You must be kidding... They will go home early (as France will). And Spain are not chokers anymore; they won the euro chamnpionship in 2008.

So Spain, Brazil and maybe Argentina (though they hardly qualified for the final tournament) are my favorites. I hope that an african team such as Ivory Coast can realise an upset, though.

The US team will soon enjoy south african beaches...

[thispego]

hmmmmm was pretty sure this was a spurs basketball forum......

[ShoogarBear]

Who is the Goran Dragic of the World Cup?

[diego]

it is messi who is overrated. I have yet to see him dominate an olympic/wc game.

Ronaldo singlehandedly has already taken his team to WC semis

ronaldo singlehandedly eh? Domination? that's interesting seeing as he scored one goal for the tournament, a penalty against Iran- DOMINATION! Portugal beat holland in one of the most disgraceful world cup games ever, then squeaked out penalties against england and lost to france. the only reason they got that far was because they led the tournament in yellow cards by beating the crap out of everyone, but it finally caught up to them in the semis when they couldnt play 2 starters because of the bookings. In fact I looked up the ideal team for the 06 WC, which is larger than previous WC ideal teams (23 instead of 16 players), and there is no sight of ronaldo, though you do have 4 other portuguese players- I guess it was cristiano that made them look good eh? He must have dominated us all blind that tournament.

but please tell me which game of any world cup or olympic game ronaldo dominated, I'd love to know what I'm missing.

and FYI, messi won the 2008 olympics and has a grand total of 122 minutes played over 3 games in a world cup. if you had just said WC, you could be on to something (even if the kid barely played), but since he was clearly the best player of the 08 gold medal team, you shot yourself in the foot.


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ps: Nice topic but I dont agree at all with the comparisons.
And for the guy that says argentina hasnt won anything in 30 years, its not 2016 yet and we also won the 2004 olympic gold (the same day manu and co won in basketball) as well as 2008. and on the youth level, we've won lots and lots of WC in the past 20 years, but that only makes it more damning that we havent been able to transfer that success to the adult level.

[DesignatedT]

My favorites: Espana, Germany

Sleeper (although a couple have already mentioned them) : Netherlands

I think they could do work. Im not feeling Argentina this year, although I will be rooting for them over most opponents.

[mexpurs21]

wake me up when netherlands wins something...

Wake me up when Portugal wins something

Netherlands is way stronger than Portugal, no, they won't win the world cup, but they deserve to be considered as a semifinalist.

[Brazil]

My favorites: Espana, Germany

Sleeper (although a couple have already mentioned them) : Netherlands

I think they could do work. Im not feeling Argentina this year, although I will be rooting for them over most opponents.

Netherlands is always the sleeper of everybody for every WC

Argentina is talented but I can't see a team coached by Diego winning a WC tbh.

For me it's like every WC, contenders are Germany, Italy, Brazil +1 country that change every year, this year it is Spain

[ElNono]

BTW, Maradona already left out Cambiasso, Zanetti, Gago, Lucho Gonzales and Lisandro López...

[ALVAREZ6]

Comparing Argentina to Spurs is very inaccurate:
1. Argentina's coaching is like having Isaiah Thomas, Spurs obviously have arguably the best coach in the league (definitely top 2)
2. Argentina has a ton of young talent, most of their best players are pretty young, not like Spurs
3. "Most of the time they end short of their goal" ...I don't think this is the case... 4 championships the past decade basically, all within an 8 year span, I wouldn't say this is true compared to other teams. The Lakers are the only other team on the Spurs level this past decade.

[DesignatedT]

Ivory coast is pretty interesting. Drogba is going to have to have a monster world cup for them to come remotely close, but i could see it happening.

[Brazil]

BTW, Maradona already left out Cambiasso, Zanetti, Gago, Lucho Gonzales and Lisandro López...

what ?

can you give me the big lines of this selection ?


Our dumb coach left out Nasri and Benzema

[Cherry]

And Argentina coach Maradona is so stupid as is Rick Carlisle

Respect Carlisle a little more... he is coach.

[mogrovejo]

I appreciate the effort to bring some soccer knowledge to the forum, but I think most of the comparisons were quite poor and you didn't put much thought into them. If you want to compare soccer teams to NBA teams, I'd go with these...


LA Lakers: Brazil Most star power, most championships, most bandwagon fans, favorites to win again this year. They're coached by a defensive-minded ex-player (Phil Jax and Dunga). Best player a threat to score or pass (Kobe, Dunga).

Cleveland: England Lots of media hype and attention, but ultimately they've won nothing. Their best player scores a lot, but not on the big stage (LeBron/Rooney), but their second and third best routinely disappear in the big tournaments (Mo Williams, Antawn Jamison/Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard)

Orlando: Spain They just won something recently (the Euro Cup/the Eastern Conference) and their roster is ing loaded, but people keep forgetting about them. Their best player (Dwight Howard/Fernando Torres) can't always perform because of cir stances beyond his control (foul trouble/injury).

Boston: Italy Recent champions, old as , lots of internal bickering, tough as heck to knock out in tournaments. They're like roaches you can't kill. Defense-first team.

Spurs: Germany Lots of past success, some proud veterans with a history of showing up when it matters most, but ultimately a bit long in the tooth. They play an efficient, mechanical style but have more flair than their critics give them credit for.

Phoenix: Holland They play an attractive style, very offensive with lots of scorers who can shoot from anywhere. Ultimately they always choke in the big games, but maybe this will be their year.

Denver: Portugal One big off-putting of a scorer (Ronaldo/Carmelo), a lot of arrogant, enigmatic knuckleheads. Lots of unrealized potential. Lots of red cards too. Nobody likes them, emotionally immature.

Dallas: Argentina (sadly, because I like Argentina). One sensational player who has a lot of regular season success but a checkered history in big games (Dirk/Messi). A bunch of individual scorers who play with no heart. An idiotic figurehead on the sidelines who insists on being quotable and making himself the center of the story (Maradona/Cuban). No serious analyst gives them a chance to go far.

Milwaukee: USA Nice story, but ultimately they have little chance against the big boys.

Ivory Coast: Portland Ditto.

Well done as well. Some stuff is pure fiction/hating, but nicely done nonetheless.

[DAF86]

I appreciate the effort to bring some soccer knowledge to the forum, but I think most of the comparisons were quite poor and you didn't put much thought into them. If you want to compare soccer teams to NBA teams, I'd go with these...


LA Lakers: Brazil Most star power, most championships, most bandwagon fans, favorites to win again this year. They're coached by a defensive-minded ex-player (Phil Jax and Dunga). Best player a threat to score or pass (Kobe, Dunga).

Cleveland: England Lots of media hype and attention, but ultimately they've won nothing. Their best player scores a lot, but not on the big stage (LeBron/Rooney), but their second and third best routinely disappear in the big tournaments (Mo Williams, Antawn Jamison/Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard)

Orlando: Spain They just won something recently (the Euro Cup/the Eastern Conference) and their roster is ing loaded, but people keep forgetting about them. Their best player (Dwight Howard/Fernando Torres) can't always perform because of cir stances beyond his control (foul trouble/injury).

Boston: Italy Recent champions, old as , lots of internal bickering, tough as heck to knock out in tournaments. They're like roaches you can't kill. Defense-first team.

Spurs: Germany Lots of past success, some proud veterans with a history of showing up when it matters most, but ultimately a bit long in the tooth. They play an efficient, mechanical style but have more flair than their critics give them credit for.

Phoenix: Holland They play an attractive style, very offensive with lots of scorers who can shoot from anywhere. Ultimately they always choke in the big games, but maybe this will be their year.

Denver: Portugal One big off-putting of a scorer (Ronaldo/Carmelo), a lot of arrogant, enigmatic knuckleheads. Lots of unrealized potential. Lots of red cards too. Nobody likes them, emotionally immature.

Dallas: Argentina (sadly, because I like Argentina). One sensational player who has a lot of regular season success but a checkered history in big games (Dirk/Messi). A bunch of individual scorers who play with no heart. An idiotic figurehead on the sidelines who insists on being quotable and making himself the center of the story (Maradona/Cuban). No serious analyst gives them a chance to go far.

Milwaukee: USA Nice story, but ultimately they have little chance against the big boys.

Ivory Coast: Portland Ditto.

I Agree with pretty much everything except that part, How is Messi a chocker in the big stage? He's 22 and has already won everything there's to win except the World Cup (he only played one at age 18 and wasn't even the starter) and in every important game Messi played well and scored (Last season he played 5 finals and scored in 4 of them) and against Real Madrid (Barca's biggest rival -Barca is Messi's team -) Messi has scored 6 goals in 7 games. (To give you an idea: That's like A-Rod hitting 6 home runs in 7 games against the Red sox in a playoff series.)

[jdev82]

comparing the best soccer player in the world to Tony Parker.

not in level of dominance, but stylistically its a good comparison. small, the fastest player ive ever seen, good passer, but his main goal is to score, and he does it brilliantly from inside the box. good comparison.

[arles]

what ?

can you give me the big lines of this selection ?


Our dumb coach left out Nasri and Benzema

From OLE:

Arqueros/Goalkeepers: Sergio Romero (Az Alkmaar), Mariano Andújar (Catania) y Diego Pozo (Colón)

Defensores/Defenders: Nicolás Burdisso (Roma), Ariel Garcé (Colón), Fabricio Coloccini (Newcastle), Martín Demichelis (Bayern Munich), Gabriel Heinze (Olympique Marsella), Juan Manuel Insaurralde (Newell's), Nicolás Otamendi (Vélez), Clemente Rodríguez (Estudiantes) y Walter Samuel (Inter).

Volantes/Midfielders: Sebastián Blanco (Lanús), Mario Bolatti (Fiorentina), Jesús Dátolo (Nápoli), Angel Di María (Benfica), Jonás Gutiérrez (Newcastle), Javier Macherano (Liverpool), Juan Mercier (Argentinos Juniors), Javier Pastore (Huracán), Maxi Rodríguez (Liverpool), José Sosa (Estudiantes) y Juan Sebastián Verón (Estudiantes).

Delanteros/Forwards: Gonzalo Higuaín (Real Madrid), Ezequiel Lavezzi (Nápoli), Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Diego Milito (Inter), Martín Palermo (Boca), Carlos Tevez (Manchester City) y Sergio Agüero (Atlético Madrid).

[gilmor]

Skills: Ginobili=Messi

Heart: Ginobili>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Messi

You got to be ing kidding..

In terms of skills, Manu can't even smell Messi..

But I would agree with the 'Heart' part though.

[td_tp_manu]

Xavi is the heart of Spain. Don't forget him.

I think Italy has more resemblance with Spurs - because I love them both!

This is very very good and creative write-up. Thanks!!

[DAF86]

Xavi is the heart of Spain. Don't forget him

Agreed, IMO Xavi is the best Spanish player of all time.

[LaEliza]

You got to be ing kidding..

In terms of skills, Manu can't even smell Messi..

But I would agree with the 'Heart' part though.

Mmmm maybe because its not a "NBA fan" point of view, is more like an argentinian point of view....I wrote that thinking about Manu is our best player in basquetball and Messi is our best in football.
Anyway in terms of skills....i dont think that Manu is so far away like you say

[manubili]

I am not sure how informed you are about Soccer. But would be wise to get more information.
Argentina would be more like the Mavs than the Spurs, a lot of talented players with a so-so coach-owner that thinks that a lot of talent equals a championship. Is arguably one of the most younger rosters in the WC.

I wish Argentina was more like the Spurs, classy, self tempered, well coached etc.

[ALVAREZ6]

I wish Argentina was more like the Spurs, classy, self tempered, well coached etc.

Argentina and classy, self-tempered, well coached...haha, these are all dreams... (of course I'm speaking about futbol)
The basketball squad is the opposite, this generation has been lucky with them, because Argentina basketball will be back to nothing quite soon.

[itzsoweezee]

Excellent thread.

Could someone do a similar comparison with the NBA and the English Premier League? I've always wanted to watch club soccer, but don't have a team to root for.

[polandprzem]

For Argentina it pretty much goes Messi or Mess